The city that networks

There are some perks to unemployment at first. You can wake up late. You can wear pajamas all day. You have plenty of time to read awesome blogs like this one. But sooner or later, you're going to get tired of all that. And while hovering over Craigslist and adding 250 new connections on LinkedIn seems productive, there are other ways to get yourself back under those fluorescent office lights.

Enter Out of Work Chicago, a community created by unemployed professionals for those who share their affliction. Its Web site is full of advice, news and, yes, job postings. And now, the community is launching a weekly series of networking/happy hour events to get you doing some face-to-face networking. The launch party takes place Wednesday, February 25 at Flatwater, 321 N. Clark, from 5-9 p.m. Attendees will include unemployed Chicagoans, but also hiring managers and recruiters, so you might want to change out of those pajamas. They were getting a little ripe anyway, weren't they?

Complimentary wine and cheese will be served. You can (and should) register online.